Introduction
The Roman Catholic Church traditionally considers Saint Peter one of Jesus Christ’s twelve apostles, and he was its first Pope due to his influential involvement in the early Christian Church. Christians throughout the globe continue to research and admire his life and legacy. A fundamental doctrine of the Catholic Church is the primacy of Saint Peter as the first Pope.
The Roman Catholic Church believes that Peter and successive popes were and are perfect in their teachings and rulings. Through documents such as the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church explains how the pope can lead the church without making a mistake because of his holiness. Thus, the discussion relies on texts such as the Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church to make its case. The belief that Saint Peter is the first Pope of the Catholic Church and the beginning of apostolic succession is essential to the permanence of the Church and unity, as it ascertains that Christ’s teachings are continuously passed through generations of believers.
Saint Peter’s Life Before He Became an Apostle
Simon (Saint Peter) hailed from a fishing family in Galilee. He had a brother called Andrew, who espoused the teachings of John the Baptist. Peter met Jesus through. Peter and Andrew were casting their nets into the sea when Jesus asked them to join him and become “fishers of men.”
According to John 1:42, Andrew “brought him (Peter) to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas.” This loosely translates to a stone or rock; Peter would be the new church’s foundation. This also meant that Peter was expected to stand firm amid tribulations, including persecution for his belief in Christ.
The term “fishers of men” refers to Jesus’ invitation to Peter and Andrew to become his followers and assist him in spreading his teachings and message to others. The fishing analogy was used because, much as fishermen catch fish, the disciples will capture people’s interest and bring them into the camp of followers. This remark became central to Peter’s purpose as he rose to prominence as one of the most important leaders of the early Christian church.
Peter’s new duty required him to spread the good news of Jesus to non-believers. He preached to multitudes, performed miracles, converted many people, and welcomed them to the church of Christ. Peter’s new role was critical to the development and growth of Christianity.
After seeing Jesus, Saint Peter’s life underwent a radical transformation. He became one of Jesus’ closest followers and shared in several of Jesus’ most memorable experiences, including the Transfiguration and the Last Supper. Peter also proclaimed Jesus the Messiah first, calling him the Christ, the Son of the living God. According to Acts 1:14-39, Peter “lifted his voice” and spoke for the first time on the day of Pentecost, marking the beginning of the church’s goal to spread Christianity across the globe. Saint Peter continued to preach and perform miracles and was persecuted several times for his ministry.
Peter is an essential character in the early Church in the Acts of the Apostles. In this book, Peter delivered the sermon responsible for the spiritual awakening of thousands of individuals. According to Acts 10, Peter was the first apostle to baptize a Gentile. God sent him to Cornelius, a Roman commander who had supported the Jews. Peter preached to the audience that had assembled at Cornelius’s home. Accordingly, the Holy Spirit descended upon the group, an act which meant that non-Jews had become Christians. This act provided the foundation for Gentiles to become Christians.
The Beginning of Apostolic Succession
A common belief among early Christians was that Jesus appointed Peter as the first pope. According to Brattston (2020), the doctrine of apostolic succession holds that the 12 disciples transferred their power to their heirs, who in turn passed it on to those who followed them until the present day. In Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus says to Saint Peter, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Christians see this verse as evidence that God gave Peter extraordinary power over matters of religion and morals, making him the leader of the Church.
In John 21:15-17, Jesus urges Peter three times to feed his sheep, implying that he was to be the caretaker of Christ’s flock, thus providing more evidence for Peter’s authority. This verse can be considered Peter’s appointment as the head of the Church. The repeated admonishment to “feed my sheep” is crucial because it underlines Peter’s leadership and caregiving position within the Christian community. In addition, it implies that Peter’s leadership should be marked by pastoral care and compassion for the spiritual welfare of the believers.
Several other sections of the New Testament also support Peter’s seniority. For instance, Peter frequently appears as the apostles’ spokesperson, and he is the one who presents the opening sermon on the day of Pentecost. Moreover, Peter is the one who performs the first miracle after Jesus returns to heaven (Acts 3:1-10). Additionally, he is the one who presides over the first council of the Church in Jerusalem: “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God chose among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe” (Acts 15:7-11).
Popes have traditionally declared decrees, written letters, and convened councils to resolve doctrinal disagreements and define the Church’s canonical beliefs. Similar evidence of the church’s authority and its leaders can be seen in a letter written by Pope Clement I. Pope Clement I was the first Apostolic Father of the Christian Church (Herron, 2010). The letter was written to the Corinthians around A.D. 80 to tackle the disputes threatening to divide and destroy the church (Catholic Answers, n.d).
A few rash and self-centered persons instigated the insurrection, resulting in confusion and division among the believers. In his letter, Pope Clement 1 expresses his concern for the well-being of the Corinthians as well as the reputation of the church (Catholic Answers, n.d). He beseeches them to put an end to the uprising and to reinstate their leaders in the roles that they had previously held.
Further, he acknowledges and apologizes for the church’s delayed response to the disagreement and clarifies that this was unintentional. In this regard, Pope Clement I seeks to guide the Corinthians on the right path and restore harmony and tranquility to the church. According to him, the church’s and its leaders’ influence is a result of their interaction with God and the Holy Spirit, stating, “You will afford us joy and gladness if being obedient to the things which we have written through the Holy Spirit, you will root out the wicked passion of jealousy” (Catholic Answers, n.d, par 1). In claiming that the Holy Spirit has provided him with the power to see and root out evil, Pope Clement I confirms that leaders in the church have a strong connection with God, allowing them to make decisions and provide counsel that is in line with his desire.
In light of those above, it can be asserted that the Catholic Church is apostolic because it has an inherent linkage with the Apostles and the time of the Apostles. The Catechism explains that the Church might be considered to be founded on the Apostles in three ways (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1993, ccc 857). Initially, Jesus personally chose and sent forth a group of witnesses who would later become known as “the foundation of the apostles.” Indeed, Ephesians 2:20 states that the apostles had become neighbors with the saints and members of God’s family rather than outsiders and aliens “built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” In other words, the Apostles are the cornerstone upon which the Church of God is erected.
Secondly, the Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit who dwells within it, guards and conveys the teachings, the “good deposit,” the enlightening words inherited from the apostles. Finally, the apostles’ heirs to the pastoral office—the college of bishops, assisted by priests, and working in concert with the heir of Peter, the Church’s chief shepherd—will teach, purify, and guide the Church until the Second Coming of Christ (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1993, ccc 857). In this approach, the continuance of the Church’s teaching, anointing, and regulating ministry is seen to rest on Peter’s status as the beginning of apostolic succession.
Moreover, the Bible confirms that the disciples’ ministry fulfills Jesus’ mission. Indeed, Jesus told the Twelve, “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me (Matthew 10:40). In this view, the Catechism identifies Jesus as an apostle, stating that the Church correctly considers that bishops have taken the role of disciples as spiritually authoritative shepherds of the Church. That is, “priests enjoy Apostolic succession in union with the successor of Peter, the Church’s supreme pastor” (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1993, ccc 857).
In practice, the whole Church is apostolic because it remains in contact with its origin through later apostles, notably St. Peter, and because it is “sent out” into the entire world (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1993, ccc 683). Christ is undeniably the one who planted the seed for this evangelistic movement. The Catechism (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1993, ccc 864) makes this point clear, stating that clergy and laypeople must have a personal and active connection with Christ for their apostolates to be effective.
In addition, the Catechism stresses that the teachings and practices of the Church are not founded on human reason but on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the Catholic Church’s creeds genuinely reflect the apostles’ teachings and the founders’ beliefs. The papal primacy, or the Church’s teaching authority, is founded on the apostles’ principles and controlled by the Holy Spirit. Catechism’s central teaching is that all Christians must participate in the Church’s mission of evangelization, service, and advancing social justice and peace (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1993). The Church is not only an authoritative organization; it is a fellowship of believers who are all obligated to work together to further the Church’s mission and the Kingdom of God.
Correspondingly, the Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to important texts that reinforce the role of Peter as the first Pope. One such document is Christus Dominus, written by the Second Vatican Council, and it focuses on the authority of bishops (Levering, 2017). Although the document does not identify Peter as the first pope or leader of the Catholic Church, it provides information on the role and duties of bishops in the Catholic Church and their relationship with the Pope. In particular, the Pope is recognized as Peter’s designated successor and the head of the Catholic Church (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1965; Levering, 2017).
In the opening few pages, Christus Dominus compares modern bishops and their forebears. By receiving the highest degree of the Sacrament of Holy Orders, bishops in the Catholic Church are recognized as the rightful successors to the apostles. They are vested with complete authority to carry out the ministry Christ entrusted to the Church (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1965). Moreover, it emphasizes the Pope’s authority over the whole Catholic Church and how he and the bishops work together as members of the episcopal college to teach and shepherd the faithful in Christ’s name.
Christus Dominus also emphasizes the significance of bishops in guiding, sanctifying, and educating the faithful as Christ’s ambassadors in the world. It goes on to say that bishops are responsible for keeping an eye on their clergy and others ordained by God, ensuring that they have the resources they need to grow in their faith and take on leadership responsibilities of service and compassion within the Church (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1965; Levering, 2017). This understanding of the bishops’ and the Pope’s power in the Church is foundational to Catholic doctrine and dates back to the time of Peter and the disciples.
Early Christian history also supports the claim that Peter was the first Pope. For instance, the first-century Christian writer Eusebius of Caesarea said that Peter was the first bishop of Rome before Linus, who was replaced by Anacletus (Siecienski, 2017). A fundamental element in apostolic succession is the notion that there has been a line of bishops from Peter to the present. The works of the early Church Fathers also reflect Peter’s leadership and power as the first Pope.
For example, Saint Ignatius of Antioch, who lived in the early second century, wrote that the Church in Rome holds the presidency and is “…worthy of God, worthy of honor, worthy of blessing, worthy of praise, worthy of success, worthy of sanctification, and because you hold the presidency in love, named after Christ and named after the Father” (Catholic Answers, n.d, par 3). These words can be viewed as evidence of the early Church’s recognition of the authority of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope.
Counterarguments
To this end, the claim that Saint Peter was the first pope is founded on the assumption that Jesus chose him as the head of the early Christian church. The absence of historical or scientific proof, however, may be used by others to refute this assertion. The fact that Saint Peter was the head of the early Christian church is one instance where there is no clear historical proof.
While Peter is mentioned many times in the New Testament, it is unclear whether or not he was the apostles’ leader. Even though the word “pope” is not used explicitly in the Bible, there is a wealth of evidence that Peter was a leader among the first Christians. The proof for this may be found in passages like Matthew 16:18-19, where Jesus informs Peter that he will be the foundation on which he will build his church and give him the keys to the kingdom of heaven. This shows that Peter had a significant role in the foundation of the Christian church.
Lastly, some skeptics may contend that other apostles, such as James or Paul, could have enjoyed similar responsibilities in the early Christian church. Although other apostles played key roles in the early Christian community, strong biblical evidence suggests that Jesus gave Peter extraordinary importance. In John 21:15-17, Jesus instructs Peter to feed his lambs and tend to his sheep, which can be interpreted as a directive to lead and care for believers. Notwithstanding these credible claims, there is extensive proof that Saint Peter was a prominent church leader in the early Christian community and thus the first pope.
Conclusion
The significance of the pope in shaping the history of Christianity is undeniable. Popes have played a vital role in developing the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church throughout history. Like the current pope, Saint Peter’s position as an apostle was crucial in establishing church unity and guiding Christians in the manner Jesus commanded.
The scriptural and historical evidence presented here shows why Peter is regarded as the first head of the early Christian Church and, by default, the first Pope. The Gospels, the early Church Fathers’ works, and the Catholic Church’s Catechism are evidence of Peter’s leadership and authority. In Christianity, the continuity of the Church’s mission to educate, sanctify, and rule has rested on Peter’s standing as the first in the line of apostolic succession. In light of this, although the pope’s role in the Catholic Church has developed through time, the underlying notion that Peter was the founder of the early Christian community has remained central in Catholic doctrine.
References
Brattston, D. W. (2020). Apostolic Succession: An Experiment that Failed. Wipf and Stock Publishers.
Catholic Answers. (n.d). What the early church believed: The authority of the Pope. Catholic Answers.
Herron, T. J. (2010). Clement and the early church of Rome: On the dating of Clement’s First Epistle to the Corinthians. Emmaus Road Publishing.
Levering, M. (2017). Christus Dominus. In M. L. Lamb, & M. Levering (Eds.), The Reception of Vatican II (pp. 95-114). New York: Oxford Academic.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana (1965). Christus dominus. (2023). Vatican.va.
Libreria Editrice Vaticana (1993). Catechism of the Catholic Church. Vatican.
Siecienski, A. E. (2017). The historical Peter. In A. Edward Siecienski (Ed.), The Papacy and the Orthodox: Sources and History of a Debate, Oxford studies in historical theology (15–53). Oxford University Press.